WHAT'S NEXT

Tampa Bay Rays: Make an It Gets Better video!
  1. Signatures
    2,277 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. General Manager (+ 5 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • General Manager (Andrew Friedman)
      • Vice President, Marketing/Community Relations (Tom Hoof)
      • Tampa Bay Rays (Tampa Bay Rays)
      • Owner (Stuart Sternberg)
      • President (Matthew Silverman)
      • Vice President, Communications (Rick Vaughn)
  2. Created By
    Benjamin Douthett
    Jacksonville, FL
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Aug 08, 2011

The Tampa Bay Rays have announced their intention to film an “It Gets Better” video by late August, becoming the ninth team in professional sports to join the nation-wide campaign in taking a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia.

“We believe in the impact these videos can have upon LGBTQ youth in all communities,” said Brian Auld, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Rays. “The Rays are proud to join fellow baseball clubs in taking a stand against bullying.”

The Rays’ decision came after Jacksonville resident Ben Douthett started a petition on Change.org asking the Rays to make an “It Gets Better” video. More than 2,000 people -- mostly Floridians -- signed Douthett’s petition.

http://news.change.org/stories/tampa-bay-rays-join-it-gets-better-campaign

More attention than ever is being focused on anti-gay bullying and homophobia in sports. It's time for the Rays to take a stand.

The reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants recently became the first pro sports franchise to release their own It Gets Better video. The response has been overwhelming, with fans of many other teams across America to publicly announce their support for better treatment of GLBT athletes.

This petition is for all fans, home or away, of MLB's Tampa Bay Rays, imploring the boys in blue to stand up for what's right, and let it resound from the Trop across the nation and beyond: "It Gets Better"!


 

 

 

 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Rays, please support It Gets Better!

From Your Fans,

As fans of the Tampa Bay Rays, we would like to respectfully ask that the Rays record their own "It Gets Better" message in support of LGBT youth.

Recently, the San Francisco Giants became the first major pro sports team to officially support the "It Gets Better" project by recording a video of their own, and fans around the nation have begun petitioning their home teams to do the same and stand up to the bullying of gay kids.

That's why we think the Tampa Bay Rays should step up to the plate and record their own "It Gets Better" message. Our country is built on several traditional values, and the most traditional American value of all is to defend the rights of others to be who they are without persecution. No one should be subject to prejudice, bullying, violence or hatred. Everyone should be free to live their lives without fear.

We, the undersigned, are asking the Rays to do the right thing, standing as one with us against hatred and prejudice for the good of all Americans and all people everywhere.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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